The Sun. — London, England, 1826-12-22 00:00:00

BPMiT OF Tfii?:' titinitb JOURNALS. It is not from 'motives - petuliar to a journalist, that we join rwith most reasonable men in calling for a „ fbrmation of the law of libel. The present state of that law present's perhaps the most barbarous incon s sisteney in the' whole range of English jurisprudence. That " maiife" and falsehood' should in all cases be ingredients' necessary towards constituting the offenee and yet that the same law which makes ' the charges of falsehood 'and . malice, should peremptorily forbid the accused party to Aver the most direct evidence that his words were not false, mid therefore, generally speaking, the best collateral evi dence that his .motives were not malicious—appears, and no WO'nder, to minds untrammelled by, precedent, the most astonishing stretch of tyranny over 'common Eense and justice, that 'ever invaded the legislation of , . a pe4lo fancying ..themselves free. Undonbtedly, if it could be made clear to the human understanding, thaCpubliatmen ought to be held sacred from obser vation of . every kind, and grievances the most into lerable lie endured in silence, without the remotest chance of redress, there never was a scheme more ilex ternsinlY fitted for giving eternity to national suffering, and impunity to the most flagitious political crimes, than this invention of the old English law of libel. If a complaint was made of any abuse, ~,however glaring, and any name of an official person connected with it, one phrase familiar to Judges and Attornies-General was, that " we must not bring the King'a Govern ment into contempt," for that was "libel." Rut an unfortunate complainant urged in his 'defence that he but stated a notorious, fad, that he implied no. .con tempt or blame against things or persons, which he could not prove to be, precisery as he described them, then there was a second precious aphorism ready—to wit, that the truth - of his assertions was even more mis shieVous than their falsehood would have been . ; so that to give evidence of that truth would be as useless as in itself it was illegal. Now we are prepares! to aeknow s ledge our own conviction, that it is hardly possible to imagine limitations more close, or a field more narrow, than those within which the offences termed dovern ment libels might with great safety and usefulness to the public interests be reduced. No Government, in a coun try where the press ,is free, can be seriously injured by the propagation of falsehoods againit it ; because such falsehoods are instantly refuted, and their authors, not the Government, become as certainly the object of contempt. If, again; it he'said, that the publication of truth itself against a Go.• vernment may sometimes be attended With inconvenience, it is surely quite obvious .that such an evil bears no corn 'Alison to that of a unitbrm suppression of the truth, by which remedies for existing wrongs are rendered alto gether unattainable, and power perpetuated in the least deserving hands. Mr. Brougham we rejoice to see, has revived the bill which was brought forward' but not persevered in, so long' ago as 1816, for mitigating this eltunay and senseless law of libel. The chief pur 7 pose ,of the Learned Gentleman is to enact, that the trial' may in every case, Whether of information, in dictment, or civil action, be given in evidence, not at. all times as a justification, but ilea key to the real merits of the cause, which are now disguised by studied and impe netrable pretences. The presumption of " malice" will, thus no longer be a fiction of law, but a consideration for the conscience of the jury. The solid elementy of the question Will be brought to light, and a h r il sentence will seasie to interpose itself between the individual and society, to blast his credit by technical stigmas, and prevent him from being fairly appreciated us a moral agent. Even by analogy, this reforth ought, before now, to have been ad mitred. At the Old Bailey, in trials for murder, highway robbery, felonies, assaults, &c., the ciresuristances unending the commission of the allege crime are industriously in vestigeted, With a view to determine the real motives of the patties, and thence the true 'character of the transgres sion. The law, in the civil Courts, and under the tutelage o f the same learned judges, is far otherwise constructed end adininintered. There the grand bugbear of free disCussion is tube diligently hunted down, and sinless the legislature shall interfere in a very distinct and decided manner, we are bound to se y, that within u few years the law of libel will be rendered eneh, through the mean servility of juries, anti the unceasing advance of one bad precedent upon ano• ther, as practically to reeonquer from thepeople the ground to gloriously won for them by Charles Fox,.and to oblite rate every ventage of this ,manly, amble, assn patriotic achievements of Erskine.---'learner. The Courier Francais aceounts, apparently very Fatisfactorlly, for the report which prevailed , in the City, on the I4th, of an insurrection in Ireland. It states—we know not on what authority--..that our Go. vermnent had seized the outlines of a plot organized by the Apostolicals of Madrid, Paris, and Rome, for the purpose of exciting a simultaneous movement in Ireland at the time the Marquis de Chaves entered Portugal, and that the report had arisen from some imprudent member of the faction giving vague hints about the intended insurrection. Whether such a plot was in existence we caimat say—nothing, how ever, is more likely ; it is quite in keeping with the character of the party that rules at Madrid, and with the conduct of the OConnells and Side's on the an nouncement of the King's Message. They seemed to riot in joy it the prospect of a foreign war. These men boast that the calamities of England arc their joy and consolation, and the only grounds of hope for, ob taining Catholic, Emancipation. They know well enough, however, that a war would not at all aid their cause. During the late war , the most arduous in %Aid) this country ever was engaged, the Catholic caus e did not p gain ground. During te peace it has made rapid pro. great,. The Cabinet is divided on the question—there have been repeated majorities in favour of it in the House of Commons, and nothing, perhaps, but the madness of the Catholic leaders in Ira and, and the blind zeal of their colleagues abroad, could have retarded its progress. We believe nothing could be so fatal to it as any collusion on the part of the Catholics with foreign powers, Dnd parti milady with the Jesuitical and A postolical party which is said to prevail at the Cowls of Rome, Paris, and Madrid party which, the French paper says " would produce .foreign and civil war, blood, ruin, and destruction, under the name of religion,' If the Catholic leaders are not sincere, which many believe, in their attempts to obtain Emancipation, let them continue to rejoice in the distress of stir manufacturing classes, in the prospect of foreign weir, in the success of those men who have re-established the Inquisition, and would plung e the human mind again in the darkness of die middle ages, and we are convince d that, for some ti m e yet, they shalt saJoy the satisfaction of making treasonable speeches and ciillacti ng t h e catho. lie rent. —Morning Herald. From the contents of the French Papers (f or o h. taining which, at this moment of intense interest, ou r readers will perceive that we have walk arrangem ent , for outstripping all competition), it evident that a much greater diversity of opinion prevai ls at ins thau among us, upon the subject of the consequences. of the measures adopted towards Spateby the British Government. We cannot, however, too strongly cau tion our readers against placing too implicit a refill)" on the part taken by the press, in either country, upon the subject. Besides the fraudulent trade of stock-rb bing to which so large a portion of the Press, sometimes knowingly and sometimes unconsciously, is made.sub servient, there are a thousand other interests, passions, and motives, continually at work to stir up strife, for Out sake of the spoils which, in so, many shapes, it distributes among its partisans. That peace is the true interest of nations, and more especially at this moment of our country, and with it at the whole European cointnunity,, cannot be doubted ; a fact which renders it the more extraordinary that those politicians who are, upon most occasions such warm advocates of the hap piness and amelioration of the human, race, should now be among the foremost and most urgent in forcing the Government into a state of hostility If there ever 'was an object which ought to produce a Sin cere and honeatunien among all other powers, to mi tigate a great and general evil, it must be the state of the Spanish nation and Monarchy ; the situation of which, for some years, can only be looked upon as in the nature of a common nuisance, or as of an indivi dual whose hand, like that of Ishmael, is against every man, and against Wham every man's hand is entitled tobe raised, either in retaliation or self-defence. That the law of nations would, long since, have justified an armed in . terference with a country so misgoverned and so highly mischievous as this has been, admits of no question. The three powers most interested in this subject are those of Frioice, Portugal, and England ; and, however mortifying it may be to those who would foment perpetual discord :bet‘Veeri the first and last of these, no reasonable -man: of either country can doubt that there never can have been a more legitimate or praiseworthy alliance between the two States than that France and England, laying aside 'all ab surd jealousy and rivalry, should unite in compelling the Spanish Government to resume such a position as may in sure its own peace and integrity, and with them its, rela tive situation in th e s ca l e o f na ti ons . That - any pfirt of the press in either country should lend itself to any other than this obvious policy, reflects but little credit upon those who conduct it, and throws an evident ground of suspicion over the motives of those who,influence it., It is a miserable state of things when the only question as to going to war is, whether a country CAM or cannot afford it. No prudent Government will or can disregard the question of 'expencei but to a really statesmanlike mind, such will be but-a secondary object, with the higher ground of na tionul honour, on the one hand, and of the supreme duty,of sparing the effusion of human blood, on the other. Though we differ from Mr. Cunning's late speech in many respects (arid in none more than in the incautious zeal which it ex , hibits), he is on this head entitled to the highest praise that the ,mere question of money neither entered into his argument or his contemplation. To preServe the general peace of Europe should be the object of every Govern ment at this time ; and of all who can in any way influ ence their proceedings. To be prepared for hostilities is one of the surest means of averting them . So far the mi litary and naval preparations going on in this country may be bath palliated and approved. But the most certain mode of instil-big peace at this moment is, that the two great powers of England and France should, by a cordial union and firm decision, convince that of Spain, that it can not be permitted with impunity to violate the integrity of Portugal, or in any other way hazard the peace and repose of the world, either by its 'imbecility, dishonesty, or rest- We call the particular attention of our readers to a 1 trial in - the Court of Common Pleas yesterday,.re ported in another column, in which they will see the extent to which it is wished to carry the hostility- to ' the Press. The subject of the trial was the publica tion of some POlice proceedings. We shall now merely confine ourselves to the doctrine which it is at tempted to enforce, .respecting reporting in general. Two points were more particularly mooted ; Ist, the utility of Police Reports; and 2dly, the Law on the ,subject. was admitted by Mr. Serjeant that Police Reports were not justifiable in point of law, but he contended that still they were productive of great public benefit ; and though he allowed that a verdict must go against his client, yet he :thought the damages ought to he as moderate as possible. It is by disregarding both Jud ges an d C ounse l, t h at great ' benefit to the country bas often been produced by , Juries. In fact, Counsel on both sides have an evi dent interest in encouragin g thi s s y stem of finding verdicts, for it encourages Attornies to bring actimis ; and, although _Barristers are great friends to - their clients, in matters that merely concern parties in an action, they are naturally greater friends to their own order. Juries should, therefore, disregard the admissions of the Counsel' of defendants, where- . _ ever such. admissions haVe a t e nd enc y t o , perpe tuate a system that brings additional grist to the mill. The plain truth is, that the whole judicial order, fron the highest to the lowest, is now arrayed against the Press, which has as much to su ff er from -luke warm friends as bitter enemies; and the only chance we have of preserving our liberties, is in the determi nation of Juries to act with firmness on their own con victions. There ,is an understanding among the mem bers of the learned profession, arising out of some such feeling as that which led the Church of Rome to keep the Bible out - of the hands of the ignorant, that as the reverence for :their mysteries is not increased by letting in light on them, they ought to do all they can to put down the Press. We do not blink the matter—individual Barristers may be found, taken se parately, who will make liberal admissions ; but they dare no more swerve in public from the judicial Hie rarchy, than au individual priest dare swerve from the church. The Chief-Justice contended, in his charge to the Jury, " that it was altogether illegal to publish any exparte'statetnent taken before a Magistrate ;" and he regretted that Mr.:Minsliull ".should Allow, during these exparte statements; the presence of any person who gave them to the public. It h a d b een decided by the Judges, that the publication of a Police report w as an indictable offence. "Ilia is riot mincing the matter. For the last 20 years we have all. been committing, every day, scores of indictable offences. • These good Gentle men the Judges, who have the making of the law them selveS (for small is the part of the law for which we are indebted to any other source), dislike Police Reports, which they call prejudging, and preventing fair trials; and having the power of making_ the law, and dialiking all reports of examinations before a Magistrate, they ac cordingly declare that what they dislike is art indictable offence. So far, nothing is to be said.' Come we now to to the question of utility. The Lord Chief Justice " could not agree in the opinion expressed by his Learned Brother, as to the policy of publishing Police Reports, and he was surprised to hear that the learned gentleman (Mr. Sergeant Wilde), who had been so long acquainted with the administration of justice, should express an opinion, that the publication of such repoits had been ever attend ed with any . but bad consequences The pub-'' lic papers, instead of conveying useful and pleasing infor mation, were mule the vehicles of conveying to the inno einit an ' d the unwary a knowledge of every Melt and every degrading and disgusting exhibition to be found amongst the lowest and worst portisn of society." That the pub lication of Police Reports has ; hem greatly instrumen tal 'in repressing crime, has been attested by many ex-, thp.eTioneed Magistrates, and is expressly laid down on eir ov)dence by the Committee of the House of Corn nm". in the well known Report on the Adminis tration of Criminal Justice, in 1819,- Indeed the tenden cy of such publications to repress crime, by publishing the plans by Which society are plundered, and by leading to the means of obtaining evidence, is so obvious, and so much a matter of ftiicry clay' s experience that it is a work of slyereroragation to swell on it. In fact, the only argument of the Learned Chief .Justice 'amounts to assertion, and the expresciou of Mtenishment that any one should think ot herwise than he does: , All very Catholic no doubt in tolli)eloCiotnoi,rtiso,l,bviuthiocuht'iloot tbhoettroaurretsrowe,oriittoh:rbincrz: As a set-oft' against the obviout utility of these public*. cations to prevent the eseapiiTeirMite, and the unneces sary persecution of the innocent; Who used koimerly•to be committed without inquirY,''heerinse the Magistrates had no supervision (the very reatonii't&ged in Parliament for the Pollee When thniiiinOVitien proposetl,AVßS the prevention of injustice and oppression by publicity, the Lord Chief JOstiee orges, the fme Sentimental objec tion, that Poliee Reports familiarize the innocent and the unwary with the tricks of ,the depraved. But this argu ment would apply to the publication of all Reports of criminal proceedings. What with the Sessions at ,the Old Bailey, Middlesex, Westminster, Surrey, to say no thing of the Assizes, there is no intermission of the publi cation of accounts of fraud and depravity. The argument, if it is worth any thing, goes to the clapping of an extin guisher on all Reports. This is a 'consummation Which the Courts would gladly wish for; but we trust that there will always be enough of good sense and spirit among Englishmen to prevent what would convert every Judge into an oppressor and irresponsible tyrant. — We have so often . combated the ridiculous notion that Jurymen are unable to divest their minds of the impres sion produced by ex-parte statements, that we shall not advert to the absurd allegations of the Lord Chief Justice on this subject. The argument w noticed above would go_ to the extinction of all reports whatever ; and this would go to the annihilation of Juries; for, if a Juryman cannot prevent himself from confounding what he may have read or heard, weeks or months before, with the evidence in Court, how can he avoid confounding the opening • statements of the Counsel' with th e ev id en e e How can a Jury, in a civil case, separate the evidence from the representations of it given by Counsel, and, perhaps, the partial accounts given by the Judge in his charge ? He that believes in the doctrine of prejudging, without a fee or an tetelligible motive to help bins, is lit for believing in witchcraft. But his Lordship triumphantly informed the Learned Sergeant, that if he thought otherwise than himself respecting the benefit of such publications, he should apply to the Legislature to alter the law--that was a home thrust. Apply to a Legislature of which one House is exclusively composed of Magistrates who dread nothing so much as any inroads on, their discretionary power, and wish to commit ad ailum. tall on the gislature! Good. Who, in the Legislature, dares at present to say a word about any Magisterial abuses ? It would be about as wise to call on the Stock, Exchange to put an end to jobbing. When Mr. Denman brought the affair of Canfor and Mr. Kenrick before the House, Mr. Tierney made an excellent speech, but all the lawyers were silent. No, we hope for nothing from the Legisla ture. Oar only hope is in the tribunal of Juries, which are identified with the people, and which will, some day or other, return to reason.—ilioraing Chronicle. • We find the following paragraph in the Times of yesterday : " There is one clause in our city article which deserves parti cular attention. It relates to the frauds and suicide of the Stock Broker, with which the public is ;already acquainted. Who the Ladies, in the neighbourhood of Grosvenor-square, are, or who the Clergyman may be, we know not ; but we really cannot com passionate their lot. The Clergyman's object, we hear, was not extravagant gain ; but how could he 'be such a fool as to place unreserved confidence. in a Stock Broker, of whom the whole roe, from oat end to the other, are rendered rogues by the sys tem of the place—pursuing dishonest practices all the year round, which the law does not take sufficient means to repress." . . _ . • .It was with much surprise we read this vulgar and unjust aspersion upon a whole class of - individuals, -in so respectable, and, generally' speaking, so prudent a paper as the Times. We mean prucient in its calcu lations. Our contemporary. may not have the highest opinion of the -Morality of the Stock Exchange, •as ihisilewood and Ings had not a very exalted one of the House of COminons, or his Majesty's Ministers ; hut when a man vilifies by wholesale, the World is aet to suspect that there is something wrong either in his head or in hiS heartthat he wants the •intellect to discriminate, or the honesty to use his discrimina tion. We mention this, not because we would for a InOtnewattrtnitte td . ' the Dime s any but the purest motives' in every thing it does ; hut because, feeling this high respect for its intentions on all occasions, we are anxious it should avoid the. most remote ap• pearance of acting from un unequivocal impulse.— If, for example, a paper .less unimpeachable, and more obnoxious to sinister imputations, had thus de nounced the whole race of Stockbrokers as ee rogues," by "virtuiiiif their calling, would it not have been inferred, that some person or Persons connected with it had suf fered grievously from his or their transactions with the said " rogues ?" The Times, we admit, may. stand upon its known character, and laugh to scorn such: surmises. But why,should it gratuitously expose itself to malevolent interpretations, from which not even its acknowledged purity and disinterestedness can protect it.?. We are always sorry when we - see amiable, well-meaning persons, so heedlessly trifling with their own character, from the natural but mistaken notion, that all the world are as in genuous as theMselvea. Alas! if they did but know the world better, they would not consider Stock-brokers' as the only. " rogues " in it. We are quite satisfied the Times was perfectly sincere itt what it w ro t e , an d t h at i t was net done to convince the public there could be no interests or sympathies in .common between it and the " rogues" of the Stock 'Exchange. But was it not, therefore, a work of supererogation If. a suspicion had ever been breathed—if a whisper had ever been heard—tending to imply the contrary, we should have admired its stern vir tue, its proud defiance. But Heaven help us! In our .conscience, we believe the Archbishop of . Canterbury is as likely to be suspected of waddling out of the alll,as the Times of contaminating itself by participating in its pro fane mysteries. We do, therefore, wish most sincerely, that it had consulted its dignity better,aral abstained from a paroxysm of virtue, which an ill-natured world .may so easily misinterpret. Besides, to say the truth,- we .think its fit of ethics has betrayed its judgment; for we doubt, exceedingly,, whether all the persons who are connected with the Stock Exchange are so unprincipled in their dealings as they are represented. However,, the Times probably knows much more than we do about the matter. —New Times. MIDDLESEX ADJOURNED SESSIONS. Articles of the Peace were exhibited by Mr. P 1111.1.11.4 on be half of the Earl and Countess of Olengall, against an Irish school master, named Michael RIO; who bad followed the Noble ex hibitauts from Ireland, under some delusion that he had a claire upon them, and was constantly, annoying them to a most distress ing extent. A. private conversation ensued between the noble Countess and her solicitor, and it was afterwards announced that u it was to he expected that the Earl would he able to attend by the next Ses skina, the Countess would decline persisting in the application at present. 'fbe articles, in consequence, were not read. Joseph Kurt, the proprietor of a &this shop in Holywell street, and John Woolf's, his barker, stood indicted for assaulting Edward Henry Wilson, a youth about 16 years old. The Jury found the defendants Guilty. The sentence of the Court upon Hart was, that he pay a fine of Wand upon Woolf., that he pay a flue of tit, with l eave to iirwak to the prosecutor. Oeorye Curti,e, the brother of the_ pugilist, was indicted for assaulting James %meld, one of the Bow-street police, and at tempting to rescue from him a reputed thief, whom he had in custody for fejuny. _ The Jury found him Guilty. Th 0 CitAiRMAX Leuteneed him to four months' confinement, and to be kept to hard labour. A CURIOUS FACT.—Were a person, who is well withacquainted London, asked Low many butchers' shops there *re ou the north side of the way, from Tyburn Turnpike to Whitchapel, a distance of four miles, along Oxford-street, Hol horn Newgate-street, ch eaps i,k, and Cornbill, h a w ou ld searciy answer, " Two ;'" b ut such is (or Was very l ate l y ) the Act CL!fl'•--RLECTION: WARD OF FARRINGDON WITHIN. Yesterday being St. Monies's:Day, a _wardmOte.was held for the election .of 17 representatives in. the Conimon. Ginned, and the other officers of the ward. Alderman CROIVDTA, the Alderman of the ward, presided. The names of the late officers being read, Mr. TAYLOR begged leave to propose Mr. J. Williams to fil: the office of Common. Councilman, in the room of : Mr. F.agletou, Who had resigned. Mr. Otos; seconded the motion. Mr. HOWELL thanked the wardmote for its kind support of him during the ten years he had been their representative in the Common Council, and assured them of his future teal for their aersices, though his other engagements prevented him longer serv ing them as a Common Councilman. ' Mr. Deputy OtnnAu tendered his services to the ward to again fill the office of one of their Common Councilmen. Mr. SAM. RIDLEY, in offering himself to toe ward for their voice, did so from a grateful sense of their kindnessduring his recent canvass, and during his long intimacy with them. Mr. HARTLEY assured the ward, that if theynow (for the 11 th time) elected him as one Of their common councilmen, he would endeavour to discharge its duties. Mr. SOUTHGATE hoped that the comparatively limited ser• 'aces of eight years would not exclude him from the Common Council. Mr. H. PRITNIARD, who tad served them for seven years as Common Councilman, Mr. Hayward (for eight), Mr. Dunnett (for I'7), and Mr. Dunshy (for seven), severally expressed their thanks, and promised to merit it by their future conduct, if then re-elected. Mr. Ex-Sheriff KF.I.LY felt confident in soliciting the support of the ward. Mr. Barsainott (for fourteen years a Common Councilman), Mr. Jackson (three), Mr. Davidge (seven), Mr. Pittman (nine), Mr. W. Pritchard (24), and Mr. - Filly (nine), re-tendered their services. Mr. Wit.taams (one of the new candidates) who was received with considerable applause, trusted that his past services as con stable, overseer, collector of rates, and on the inquest, would be a guarantee of his future zeal as' a Common Councilman. Previous to the sense of the meeting being taken by a show of hands, Mr. Corti* wished a double show for the gentleman (Mr. Pritchard) who had been their Common Councilman for twenty= . four years. Alderman CROWDER declared that the election, as far as a show of bands went, fell upon the gentlemen 'whose names we have given, with the exception of Mr. Southgate, for whom the *how was but partial. • Mr. PEARSALL, from having been the instrument of intro ducing Mr. Southgate to the notice of the ward, wished to remind the ineeting of the grounds on which Mr. Southgate hoped for success. On the resignation of Mr. Howell, Mr. Southgate was put in nomination, but withdrew when it was known that Mr. Ridley was a candidate. Mr. Southgate, besides, was on a pre cisely similar footing with every candidate at the meeting ; but as he was unwilling to disturb the harmony of a parish—remarkable for its unanimity—he would not dispute the decision. Mr. SOUTMO ATE concurred with the worthy Alderman in his decision, that the show of hands was not in his favour, and there fore would not demand a poll. Mr. PURCELL proposed the first resolution. Alderman CROWDER assured the meeting of his deep sense of the kind manner in which the wardmote had manifested their opinion of his services. The second resolution was then put, and, also unanimously agreed to. Mr. Ex-Sheriff Kur,Lv begged leave also to express his deep sense of the kindness of the ,meeting. -Mr. TAYLOR proposed the third resolution—in doing so he wished to direct time attention of the wardmote to the ttecosity of meeting the gigantic effiarts at monopoly of the tradesmen in the West-end, by attending more than they have done, to the facility of conveyance—to the appearance df their houses-to preventing the city streets being, as they shamefully are, choked up with drays, waggons, and carts,' to nOt only the retarditent of private carriages, but their actual damage. Volk! they 'did so, and imi tated the conduct of the people at the West-end, in the widening and improving the streets, the 'trade of the city would be ruined. Mr. Deputy OLDHAM objected to the wording of the resolution. The several 'constable* and other officers were then chosen, and the wardmote dissolved: ' CRIPPLEOATE WITHOUT. Great interest Was excited in this Ward, from the circum stance of its being the first time Of exercising their franchises for the election of boor additional members. Mr. Brogden, one of the old ineint;ers, resigned. Mr. Taylor, the pewterer, WAS proposed as a candidate. Mr. Edward Gregory was proposed, as a gentleman of inde pendent eiteumstatmes. Mr. Dlxox spoke at great length in praise of Alr. Gregory. Mr. JUNKS, Mr. YALLOWLY, and Mr. PULLEN, the old mem bers, appealed with great effect to their former conduct, Mr. anzunalr came forward as a reformer, and in that cha racter hail zealously contended for the increase of representatives which the wall hail obtained. Mr. Dit,t.ott said, the present occasion was one of the most pe culiar nature, which must he peculiarly gratifying to their Alder man (Alderman Wood), whose honourable labour it had been for many years to contend for an equalisation of popular representa tion, and who now presided at the first modern instance of its exercise, and that too by the people of his own ward.—(Cheers.) —Might the examplo set in this ward be followed by other wards of the city. Mr. PALtisex spol.e at great length. He contended that the electors were not bound by the pledges they had given Mr. Taylor to vote for him. One inhabitant, who made an objection against one of the can didates, which was cleared up, said, on account of the high pri vate character of Mr. Taylor, he held the promise which he (the inhabitant) had made to him binding.---(llear.) Mr. TAYLOR said, after he had promised to resign his seat, if he found that he could not give a vote in conformity with the expressed op►nion of the inhabitants, they could require no otl►er pledge. _ _ A - show of hands was taken, when . Alderman Wood declared the numbers to be--For Mr. Jones, 248 ; Mr. Yallowly, 237 ; Mr. Alderman, 215 ; Mr. Atkinson, 197 ; Mr. ilaynes, 181 ; Mr. Pullen, 176 ; Mr. Hake, 176 ; Mr. Taylor, 167 ; Mr. Ste vens, 90; Mr. Gregory, 90.—Mr. Stevens, demanded a poll. BRIDGE WARD. ELIGINILITIF" TO SERVE TUT: OFFICE OF INQUEST. Several persons presented themselves to state their ineligibility to serve upon itniuests, one of whom, Mr. Perry, prayed to be excused from taking upon himself the office, from the circum stance that lie was a clerk in a mercantile house, and that if elected, and compelled to perform the duties attached to the ap pointment, it would make a material trespass upon his time (not his own, but tint of his empl o y ers ,) and.injnre him in various other points. Mr, Alderman GAIIRATT assured the applicant, that if the ward could entertain his application, it would. After considerable discmssion, the applicant was declared duly elected, by a large show of hands, to serve the office. LIA#ILITY TO WAVE AS CONSTARI.R. A question arose upon the name of a Mr. Day being called over ai a fit person for the office of constable. Mr. Day was objected to On the ground that he was not a householder. Mr. 6colcit contended, that Mr. Day . was a fit and proper person, inasmuch that his name was on a brass plate on the door of premises which he occupied on Fish-street.hill. Mr. Shepherd assured the ward, that Mr. Day was not a part ner in the concern. Mr. Alderman GA havrr thought, upon the representation of Mr. Shepherd, that Mr. Day was ineligible ; and he was accord. ingdyy declared to be so. The Watinlati wai then dissolved. COLEMAN-STREET WARD. At three o'clock the polling commenced, and at six it closed. The numbers then were—Mr. Hall, SS; Mr. Hunter, 31 ; ►lir. Carter, SI ; Mr. Allen, 29 ; Mr. West, 25 ; Mr. Oriffitha, Q 4, I%!r. Illeaden, 12. CRIPPLEGATE WARD WITHIN. In this Ward there will he a smart contest. Three new candi dates presented themselves, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Jaques, and Ai r . Richardson.. t i l m 'e rt o m l4 a l ra p:t ra l ra t :demanded. 'Waterhouse, the coach- Mr. Jacauts declared himself a friend to, rwefeorremd. A show of hands was taken, when Mr. eelared to have bpreeor n omitted, a d t:d m it u n t ot on he t r he o i f r Mr. Piggnt and Mr. Waterhouse were proposed to serve the office of constable. This election . Mr. Waterhouse carried bye large majority, b u t he declined returning thanks for it. At the close of the, poll the numbers were-51r..Ked, 16 ; *Mr. Palmer, 15 ; Mr. Smith, la; Mr. Buton, 12 . *Mr. J aque s, 10; Mr. Wiltshire, 1U; Mr. Waterhouse, 9; Mr. Field, 6 ; Mr. Oates, b ; Mr. Brass, 5 ; ,'Mr. Richardson, 4 • 0 STMBAYNARD WARD. _ ..—..—. Mr. Farrance, 88; Mr: Penton, 38 ; Mr. Hoppe, SS ; Mr. %Wei Sg ; Mr, Eno ) 82; . 14r, Nwbon, SI ; Mr. TopLir, So ; Mr. Palate, SO ; Lovegrove, 29; aMr. Pritchard, 20; "Mr. Jennings, 15. The three last are new candidates for the vacancy occasioned by the death of Mr. Hureombe. QUEENHITHE WARD. Mr. Routh, 21 ; Mr. Dutton, 21; Mr. Hughes, 21; Mr. Jones, 21; Mr. Howell, 20; Mr. Fellowes, 14; Mr. Hathairly, 9 ;—This ward returns six members. .BREAD-STREET WARD. Mr. Mathie, 10; Mr. Coleman, 10; Mr Bridge, 10 ; Mr . Italians', 10; Mr. Degrave, 10 ; Mr. Legg, 10 ; Mr. Cope, 10; Air. Davison, 10; Mr. Firth, 10 ; Mr. Scott, 10 ; Mr. Hooper, 10; 111 r. Burrs, 9; 'Mr. Shoebridge, wir.l return' twelve members. TOWER • WARD. *Mr. J. Hall, 23 ; Mr. Skipper, IS ; Mr. DrialtalitiS; Mr. Wright, 11 ; Mr. Stuart, 11; Mr. Smith, 11; Mr. CI ItY Z thorn, 10; Mr. Hunt, 9; Mr. Noy 9 • Mr. Robinson, 9 ; tGwoerlatve members. 7; Alr .Howell, 7 . ; Mr. Dixon, 5.--This wardaural Those marked thus ` are new candidates. WINTER ASSIZES. K I NSTO N, Dsclain a el. ti :. ',. , 4 Charles and Elizabeth Taylor, busbanctgul wik „. , 111. dieted on the Stat. S and 9 Will. 11. c. 26 . , for trai , ~. ' o f louring two pierce of base and counterfeit cam to Ai I . : the current coin of the realm, called shillings. ' • ' TheTlke p j r u is r o y :ers urs s o t e r v e e n r i:o f tw ol l i y nd dened their th i emboth gui p l u t iity . o , ands tt D n e ejT at y.h l e l eac l r i f • j u eamfroA p aiu: o t n pte o rGi u ll. n onng eed zrebaserro u h pf deon n b:e them. in a .n na be S f . ore i the same offence, and sentence of death wai pronounced upon them. No hopes of mercy were held out to J. Clarke and C. Tsylor. le,olv,icltvet.eir,eafonutiniimppuri:loi MEETINGS OF CREDITORS. • LONDON DIARY, TviesnAY, 1 - ) g. Rti ' (At the Court of Conataissiolers.) Ahnosnino S. and M., Bevis Marks, merchant 4 -1 i Clamor, ft, Clue, Suffolk, demist--1 Ford, B. Sutton, Surrey, dealer-4 1 Fry, J., Bermondsey, currier-11 Orittoe, J., Tipton, Staffordshire, iron'lnte ter—W flyatt, W., Dore e t- s t ree t, u ph o lder -11 Jackeou, Cl., Royal A rca d e , bookseller-- 11 i Kite and Best, M acc l es fi e ld' Wharf, Shoreditch, whartlogsrs.o Lawrence and Bro wn , White- c ross-street, brewers--- 11 Noah, G., Pall.m o ll, tailor-1 Nunu, T., London, merchant-11 O'Hara, M., 'Watford, Herts, innkeeper—lo COUNTRY DIARY, s - ATV ADAT, Adcock H., Birmingham, gilt toy-maker-11 DICZUHER 26. Boardman, R, Bolton—Bridge inn, Little Bolton-11 Booth, J., Chorlton Row—White's, Manchester- 12 Bradley, J., Leeds—Court-house, Leeds-10 Burrell, G., Wakefield—Sessions house, Waksfield-- 2 to p Burman, R., Southam, Warwickshire—.-Bath hotel, Lestaint Priors-1 1 Coates, W. sen. and jun., Newcastle—George, Newattle-ue'' Tyne--I 1 Coupland, J., Liverpool—George, Liverpool-1 Draws% N., Rmrworth—Crown, Emeworte-12 Fleet, J.,. Aylesbury—George, Aylesbury--10 Gilbert and Taylor, Bristol—Commercial rooms, pria w Hattnuertan, W., Barn*ley—Court-house, Wake& l . l - -S Harvey, T., Warwick---Hsydon and Co. Warwick Handy, J. Blakeney—Rummer, Bristol;-12- hater---9 Hollingworth, E. Stayley, Mottrato—Wbiteve Ilar g- ') Hooper, A., Woreaster—Hopmarket inn, Warfot tr— ' _Hatay, W., Chowbent--Royal Hotel, Manchester --11 ; Lr ua l ri ge .kra, r y; a ßE nd rriiis f uto . l , :e W c alte ochom fl mt eld—Sessions House, Wal efisia and Neale, P., Nichols, S., Liverpool—Court-louse, Leeds --1 1 4 Pigott, W., Norwich White Swan, Norwiach Pollan, R. jun., Leeds—Sessions-home, W ken Norwich:_Norfoleitri,niialioattrowolo,m_Ns,ow:b.riictieubtoli_l4 — 27 j suchour...9 Stones, C., Blanchester—White's, , s ß m os i s ;b, J. C , .:enG.,realtioprtireeltdo—n_R ucosniTret.rkfailis,toesueds.....l--001_91 0 Toghill, W.,Chalford—Rumwe r * . Wallis, S., Ch ew stoke--Virbite Lio Walter, J., Bristol—Commercial rooms, Bristol --1 lARKET S. This day ' • • apply hiving ...........-- soUTHALL 14ARKfT.—Dec. 40• , numerous, eac h kind of meat, though but little of it was a very superior quality, fully supported the prices of this day sa•nsigllto per stone of Sibs. to oink tbe WOW !-"• Bea i d Od to $ 4, ,t )3 ... ..............—........ 314.4 d. to its. W . I vial .........---, - • ~, ~ u. Od . beet% rather limited, and the buyers ''''"U .......-...... 3 2 4 4 York ortaltwpos•WWolo.• 411 0 . . Buts smolt proportio►► of the stock the market unsaid. Beet STEYNING MARKET -43e. le. 0,1 p, O. 4 114. 4d. to &L B& Veil -^""""."'•".,. 4 0 Jtu "6.0 ••••••...... 310 4 Supply totttably good, and tra d e, on the whole, rstber Mutton Beef 4a, Ns. 4d A.4ItUoN.DtoE4I. . )026:::4 01 0 , 04 e 4 : considering the last stu Off gnat Christmas and tra4e somewhat brisk. CHICHESTER MA R KET..-.Dee• ill 0. 1. go Cu. d' i • Beef - Mutton - H. d. 1,0 54. 1td.ii(441......prwr0v. qa• ~. •4 4, 4 0 4 8 Pork ........................ •. v; but , 0 the leap stock good. and tra with it Wittabli briss u.' 721 1 noet morket little bushiest wa r tratliat tej:____ _, _ ------ J, • 111/MFORD MARKET. --Der• 110 . , c l tos• o Beef a. d.tos.d. • 6 . 4 4 U 4 0 5 6 Void . ....................... , 6 Mutton 4 2 4 4 Pork . ... b ris k. .. ...... . 9 Supply rather Ihni ed. and . trade -_ _.--- _--- -- MANCHESTERWEW 8111THFIELV...Def• IA ~ 4d W 6iii 6.. ad. and is. si. par lo At u e i 0 : lib.dpersinu ows, 55_..........te,r. kin the Old- _.. , , to 6d. 125 Calvas.....-- • 4 9 _ ... 6 1 906 Plgs ..........,............ ___-.-- ------ ----....--------------..,:- ic. MANCIIESTER POTATOE Id A 1110 Et,..,„; oil 19 1 %' Potatoes, 65. , 75. , 7s. 6,1., and Se. e; r load Of I. ir.jrajpe, ° l ' -,;;; Carr°U, tiL ta. Or. 6d., and 10s. per lof 1W" ; an in/ lis• •• load of 19 score. 3,009 Sheep.. SOl Cattle t e ; O n o n t n H T ' u u o r d t:J • Y tvynahoennHidißeiansearvyrit:suErlriezys:tielenldes:lsaadacti:Nhmtienar , of ; 1 44, 11 : 4 : : :: g . ' ; : ow ' of :he lap Pitt Nind, of Cakutta. .P J a un ton es , ' E — sc - i. secotintitaine'in'irer of th e Hoover-601ex AtAt C eal airi cu it t:, A A At Se ram on April 19, Mrs.. SWAP, wife Swan, of a son. Rev. W. Bales, MA RRI A MARRIAGE young , At Bencoolea lk , lr Nov. E. Mr.A At Calcutta, I,l.u:tat:lli:a, Saturday, April ps'otri•loynil4,disautgtilitteerof:ifrif.al: Ord, of the H. C. Bengal Marine Establishment. ..,3 Iby ti' l p(prrriia: °22::: EABSTIRITsivitt. .rsritas.re ~t. the 130, ir, Drowned, on Aprill9, while on his passage from Bin't e r h y bio Calcutta, Mr. John Verdoncel, aged 22, sincerely eertt" relations and friends. stew 0 in' At Pninealt, on the night of April 11, NB - . 50 5 0 4 —" ) , digo planter, aged SS. . Ai re 0 , Bia.s . t. .4 titi f tk ;l4 Etan:Aernr J TC. . taano G t;:ii o fle.i n tii. s ur a ap l l v Ei e btei s ioy , ot o ,i f pit l h tl :di a iv o r.e. g sj ll .; te , r ,, . sierto At Chowringhee, April 20, Mrs. Maria Shitia lli ' sien Quarter-waster M. Sheridan, of H. M. )3tl light infantrY. 1 boa S 7, leaving siz young children ever to lament her loos, been one of the best of mothers. late 1011' At Chinsurah, April 19, Arratoon Avibatick, Es+ -01 f goon, merchant. . of i ,a ~.bot, At Calcutta, on the night of April 20, the eioara En"' f ,, Miss Eleanor, fourth daughter of Mr. F. Rebell°, of t, 11. 40 01 Custom-house, at the early age of 17, three months, an a tu,t l ,,: „js days, beloved and sincerely lamented by her relatives Ana '- for her many amiable qualities. th e ja" At New Bogwougolah, at the house of Mr. John Roo, font daughter of Samuel Cole, Esq. aged 14 days. rge ' l4 At Calcutta, on the 21 st of Ap ril, Mrs. Rose . I)°n/ aged 24 years. i Well' At the General Hospital, on Tuesday, April 25, Mt . - ' of his gate, volunteer of 11. C. Bengal Marine, ;n the I/th year age, sincerely regretted. . ... , is et Printed Oka Published b M YOUNG, a t tl,s i4itN.-()- i Na, 112, Ifivoktfo.